Without getting into an academic analysis of what scripture says, I’m just going to suggest a little thought experiment – or do it for real if you prefer. Imagine yourself on the phone with someone whose picture is in the same room as you. How much of the time speaking do you think you will spend actually looking at their picture? I’ve tried this, and I actually find it hard to not face the picture. To me this simply points to a natural human instinct to face a person who we are talking to. It’s such a strong instinct that even in without their physical presence we still try to do it. How much stronger then must that instinct when we are trying to get in touch with God?!

Many people are unaware that like the Muslims, the Bahá’ís also face a certain direction when saying their daily prayers. Whereas the Muslim practice is to face Mecca, and Jewish and Christian tradition focuses on Jerusalem, Bahá’ís face a point called the Qiblih. During his lifetime, the Qiblih was the location of Bahá’u'llah. When he died, this point became fixed at a place called Bahjí, north-east of Acre, Israel where He was buried.

So what makes me bring this up here and now? Well, given my well known preoccupation with maps, GPS, and the wonders of the internet, I just wanted to let you know about a super useful website for those Bahá’ís who are particularly fastidious about getting that direction right – or for anyone who is simply curious. Its called “Direction to Bahjí – Qiblih, Point of Adoration.” and it can be found at http://qiblih.com/.

Here’s a screen shot of what might be for some a little surprising at first. The site does a good job, I think, of explaining why Los Angelenos might face the Hollywood hills to the north even though Israel appears to be a straight shot East.

To Bahjí via Hollywood.

Now the cool idea I had today was that instead of hoping on a plane and flying out there, we would get a car and hit the road.  Timi hasn’t seen much of this great country soon to become her new home, so I planned out the following route of cross country sightseeing to give her a little taste of the natural beauties which lie between Wisconsin and Los Angeles.  What do you think of these points of interest?  Have I left out anything that just can’t be missed?  Is 2 weeks optimistic?

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• A: Racine, Wisconsin
• B: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• C: St. Cloud, Minnesota
• D: Badlands National Park, South Dakota
• E: Mount Rushmore, South Dakota
• F: Devil’s Tower, Wyoming
• G: Yellowstone National Park
• H: Twin Falls, Idaho
• I: Boise, Idaho
• J: Painted hills, Oregon
• K: Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Oregon
•    Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
•    Paradise, California
• L: Sacramento, California
•    Napa Valley
•    Marin County
• M: San Francisco
• N: Santa Cruz
•    Monterrey
•    Big Sur
•    San Luis Obispo
•    Santa Barbara
•    Malibu
• Hollywood
• O: We’ve arrived – Pasadena

Total distance: Nearly 6000 km (3700 mi).